Sadhguru | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Upcoming tour dates and today's guest

• Upcoming tour dates include Bloomington, Indiana on November 13th, Columbus, Ohio, Champagne, Illinois, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lafayette, Louisiana, and Bowmont, Texas, with some tickets still available (16s).
• Today's guest is Sadhguru, an Indian Guru, yogi, author, speaker, and spiritual teacher who is the founder of the Isha Institute, which teaches yoga and other spiritual practices (38s).

Human Brain and Misery

• Sadhguru notes that the human brain is capable of doing more than it currently does, but it is often hindered by friction, or the volume of thoughts and emotions that create stress and misery (2m1s).
• He compares the human brain to a machine that can be affected by friction, stating that if a car's lubrication oil is reduced, it will eventually stop working due to friction (2m9s).
• Sadhguru believes that most human misery is manufactured in the human mind, and that people often cause their own stress and problems (2m37s).
• He notes that unless someone is in a physically dangerous situation, such as a war zone, most problems are self-inflicted and can be addressed through self-help (3m0s).
• Sadhguru states that human intelligence has taken millions of years to evolve, but 95% of people use their brains to harm themselves due to a lack of understanding of how to use their intelligence effectively (3m41s).
• He compares the human brain to a sharp object, stating that if not handled properly, it can cause harm, and that people should learn how to use their intelligence in a way that benefits them (3m59s).

Human Intelligence and Consciousness

• Sadhguru notes that the DNA difference between humans and chimpanzees is only 1.23%, but that humans have developed a unique capacity for intelligence and consciousness (4m46s).
• Human intelligence and awareness are worlds apart, and without a stable platform of chemistry, energy, and physiology, intelligence can work against an individual, leading to stress, anxiety, and other forms of unpleasantness (5m0s).
• A person's intelligence can be an impediment if it is not utilized properly, and it is essential to create a stable platform for it to function effectively (5m3s).

Being a Full-Fledged Human Being

• The key to being a full-fledged human being is to recognize that one is not the problem or issue in their life, and this understanding can help individuals handle problems and troubles more effectively (6m28s).
• If a person can assert that they are not the issue in their life, they can naturally become a full-fledged human being and do their best in everything they do (7m2s).
• To achieve this state, it is crucial to engineer one's inner climate, just like controlling the external climate with air conditioning, to create a conducive environment for personal growth and well-being (8m19s).
• The process of engineering oneself involves understanding and managing one's thoughts, emotions, and needs to create a stable and supportive inner climate (8m32s).
• This concept of self-engineering is not about using technology but rather about understanding and harnessing one's inner capabilities, which was once considered magic but is now recognized as a vital aspect of personal development (8m50s).
• The goal of this self-engineering process is to enable individuals to do their best in life, not necessarily achieving perfection but making the most of their abilities and potential (7m30s).

Engineering the Interiority

• If someone claimed to be a messenger, messiah, or the son of God, it might have been believed in the past, but now it's not as convincing due to advancements in technology and engineering, which have made many things possible that were previously considered magical (9m22s).
• Engineering something well can be more impressive than magic, and modern technology has made it possible to do things that would have been considered godlike in the past, such as communicating with anyone in the world through a phone (9m56s).
• The interiority of a person can be engineered to work in a way that creates a desired state, such as blissfulness, and this can be achieved by understanding the chemistry of the human body and creating a chemistry that promotes blissfulness (10m6s).
• The human body is a complex chemical factory, and all experiences, including joy, misery, anxiety, and tranquility, have a chemical basis (10m38s).
• If it were possible to create a chemistry of blissfulness, it would be a desirable choice, and this is what is being taught, how to create a chemistry of blissfulness that is sustainable (11m4s).
• Being blissful means there is no fear of suffering, and this allows a person to take full strides in life, whereas the fear of suffering can cripple a person and prevent their genius from flourishing (11m31s).
• Every human being is capable of achieving a state of blissfulness, but it's not happening because of the fear of suffering, and this fear can be overcome by creating a chemistry of blissfulness from within (11m51s).
• Blissfulness does not mean being in a state of ecstasy or intoxication, but rather a state of being that is comfortable and joyful, and this can be achieved by fixing one's chemistry from the inside (12m14s).
• Every human being has had blissful experiences in their life, and it's possible to sustain these experiences by creating a chemistry of blissfulness (12m43s).
• The problem is not that people are not capable of being blissful, but rather that they are not able to sustain these experiences, which often happen in an unconscious manner due to external stimuli (13m12s).
• Sustainability is the key to maintaining a state of blissfulness, and this can be achieved by understanding how to create a chemistry of blissfulness from within (13m15s).

Early Life and Realizations

• At the age of 11 and a half, a realization occurred that nothing was truly known, not even something as simple as water, despite knowing how to use it and drink it (13m41s).
• This realization led to intense focus on understanding the world, staring at objects like a leaf for hours, and even the door at night, which led to concerns from family members about needing psychiatric evaluation (14m20s).
• In school, the focus was on paying attention to the teachers, but it was soon realized that they were only making sounds, and the meanings were being made up in the mind (15m7s).
• Language was understood as a conspiracy between two people, where sounds were made and meanings were attached, but this understanding led to amusement and not taking the teachers seriously (15m44s).
• The school experience was not successful, with the individual not being a good student and often escaping, but 50 years later, the school invited them to their 125th anniversary, citing their uniqueness as a mystic (16m30s).
• During the visit, memories of a particular classroom experience were recalled, where a teacher asked a question, but the individual was not attaching meanings to the sounds and was not even hearing the sounds, seeing only a blob of energy (17m36s).

India, Language, and Cricket

• India has over 19,000 languages, and speaking one of them would be just sound to someone who doesn't understand it, highlighting the complexity of language and communication (15m29s).
• Cricket is extremely popular in India, and not knowing about it could lead to severe consequences, such as having one's passport taken away (17m4s).

Seeking Answers and the Inner World

• A person was trying to get an answer for over 35 minutes, and when they didn't get it, they became violent and asked if the other person was the Divine or the devil, to which they thought the latter (18m4s).
• The problem was that nobody knew anything, and people made conclusions without knowing, even about simple things like a single atom or their place in the cosmos (18m33s).
• The person realized they didn't know anything, but they knew they existed, and this confusion led them to question whether they were Divine or the devil (18m57s).
• They tried to stare at themselves, but it didn't work, so they started closing their eyes, which led to a new dimension of experience, making the inner world more profound and complex than the external world (19m10s).
• The inner world was like another universe, and the person could spend hours with their eyes closed, exploring it (20m2s).

Isha Institute and the Pursuit of Truth

• The person was asked about their experiences with the inner world and was thanked for being present (20m16s).
• Some of the person's friends, including James Bashera, are extreme fans and have visited the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences in India and Tennessee (20m28s).
• The main religion in India is not a single external entity, but rather a pursuit of truth and the desire to know the nature of existence, with the goal of finding liberation from the mechanics of life (21m3s).
• In India, people have different methods to achieve this goal, and there is no issue with others following different methods, even within the same household (21m46s).
• The idea is that people can relate to and worship different things, even a plant, as long as it helps them connect with the truth (22m9s).
• The key aspect of worship or love is not about the object itself, but how one feels about it, as people can relate to and worship various things, including their mothers or even clouds, due to their emotional connection (22m12s).
• The concept of loving someone is not because they are perfect, but rather because one loves them, and this love makes everything about them seem wonderful (22m41s).
• The fundamental aspect of life is that one's subjectivity determines everything, and it's not about the object being a certain way, but rather about the experience and emotions associated with it (22m54s).
• The goal is to have a profound experience of life, which means having deeper roots into life, rather than living on the surface, where one can be easily affected by external factors (23m35s).
• To achieve this, one must live totally and genuinely, without just believing in something, as the word "religion" implies a need to believe, whereas India has been recognized as a land of seekers who realize they do not know (23m56s).
• Recognizing one's lack of knowledge is the beginning of seeking and can lead to a longing to know, which is a tremendous possibility, whether in science or spirituality (24m37s).
• Believing in something without clarity can give one confidence, but this confidence can become disastrous if not accompanied by clarity, as it can lead to blundering through life without truly understanding (24m57s).
• Confidence is not a substitute for clarity, and seeing things clearly is most important, as confidence can be based on assumptions and emotional investment (25m32s).
• The question is whether one wants a soulless solution, which means being convinced that everything will be okay, or a genuine solution to life, which requires seeking and knowing (25m45s).
• The word "soulless" means being convinced without truly knowing, and the choice is between being convinced or seeking to know (25m51s).

Human Evolution and the Planetary System

• A group of people can collectively decide on a truth, but it may not be the actual truth; for example, a group can agree they are in Timb, but in reality, they are in Tennessee (26m9s).
• Human evolution is no longer just biological, but also about conscious evolution (26m34s).
• The way humans have evolved is not accidental, but rather connected to the planetary system and the solar system, which can be compared to a potter's wheel manufacturing life (26m53s).
• The relationship between the Sun and the Earth is crucial, as all life on Earth is solar-powered, and the process of photosynthesis is the basis of all life (27m24s).
• Photosynthesis was first discovered by fungi or algae, which learned to manufacture food from sunlight, and this process is still the foundation of all life on Earth (27m36s).
• Although humans are not directly solar-powered, everything they eat is solar-powered, and the solar energy also controls the Earth's movement and the moon's cycles (28m22s).
• The menstrual cycle is related to the moon's cycles, and if a woman's body is not in sync with these cycles, she would not be able to give birth (29m0s).
• According to yogic calculations made around 3,400-3,500 years ago, the moon is moving away from the Earth at a rate of approximately 15 mm per year, and in about 24,500-25,000 years, the moon will be too far away for human women to have menstrual cycles, ultimately leading to the end of the human race (30m37s).

Ki and SimplySafe Promotions

• A platform called Ki allows users to bet on the outcome of various events, including the presidential election, with markets available for who will win the election, control the House and Senate, and win swing states (31m17s).
• Ki has been used by hundreds of thousands of people and has facilitated over $1 billion worth of trades, with users able to place bets on candidates such as Trump and Kamala, who are currently trading at about 50/50 (31m50s).
• The first 500 traders who deposit $100 on Ki will receive a free $20 credit, and users can sign up using the code ki.com (32m12s).
• A home security system called Simply Safe is being promoted, with a 60% discount available for new customers, and the system is described as providing peace of mind and 24/7 protection (32m43s).
• Simply Safe is offering exclusive early access to their Black Friday sale, with 60% off any new system with a select professional monitoring plan, and users can visit simplysafe.com to take advantage of the offer (33m22s).

Game Time Promotion and Human Body's Connection to the System

• A ticketing app called Game Time is being promoted, which provides complete peace of mind with purchases, allows users to see the view from their seat before buying, and offers all-in-one pricing and a guarantee that users will get the best price (34m18s).
• Users can download the Game Time app, create an account, and use the code "weekend" for $20 off their first purchase (35m4s).
• The human body is connected to the system in which it exists, and there are nine celestial bodies that have a strong influence on humans, with the shape and function of the body being connected to the Earth's gravity and the system as a whole (35m51s).
• The movement of the Earth and its gravity's influence on the human body may change over time, with some predictions suggesting that the body could change in approximately 25,000 to 28,000 years (35m43s).
• The three most important factors in the planetary system are the Sun, the Moon, and the planet itself, and humans are a consequence of this system, which formed approximately 14,000 to 15,000 years ago (36m12s).
• The first yogi, Adi Yogi, was asked why the human system couldn't be evolved to a bigger possibility, and he explained that a fundamental change in the planetary system would be required for such a change to occur (36m28s).
• Humans have reached the peak of physiological evolution, and any further changes would require a fundamental shift in the planetary system (37m7s).

Neurological Evolution and Brain Capacity

• Neurologically, increasing the capacity of the brain would require packing more neurons into the head, but this can lead to instability, as seen in some children who are born with excessive neuronal capacity (37m22s).
• To balance excessive neuronal capacity in children, physical activity such as climbing, playing, swimming, or practicing classical yoga can help burn down excess energy (38m13s).
• Another way to enhance brain capacity is to increase the size of neurons, but this would require a significant increase in energy consumption, which could be unsustainable (38m40s).
• The brain currently consumes 20% of the body's energy, and increasing the size of neurons would require even more energy, potentially hindering physical growth (38m49s).
• Adi Yogi explained that unless there are fundamental changes in the planetary system, humans cannot evolve beyond their current physiological limitations, but they can evolve consciously (39m27s).
• While humans may not be able to evolve physically, the existing system is largely unused, and the neuronal system can be developed and utilized more efficiently (39m53s).
• Studies suggest that the average human being uses only 8-12% of their brain capacity, with some individuals using up to 20% (40m5s).
• The human brain is capable of evolving and expanding its capacity, with the potential to increase intelligence and abilities many times over, but currently, people only use up to 20% of their brain's capacity (40m22s).

Managing a Large Organization and Stress

• Running a large volunteer organization with over 18 million volunteers worldwide, including 6,000 full-time volunteers, requires a significant amount of work and management (41m31s).
• The organization is involved in massive projects, including being the largest ecological movement and tree plantation program on the planet, with a recent achievement of planting 114 million living trees (41m48s).
• To manage all these projects, one needs to be able to multitask and handle multiple tracks of information simultaneously, which can be done by designing and managing every aspect of the projects (42m14s).
• People often ask how to unwind and manage stress, but the key is to not wind oneself up in the first place, and instead, focus on being intoxicated with life, which means creating a certain chemistry within oneself to be always toned but not unalert (42m49s).
• Intoxication does not mean using external substances like alcohol or drugs, which can lead to incompetence, but rather creating an internal state of exuberance and intoxication that allows one to be still and competent at the same time (43m0s).
• Time is a relative experience, and one can experience joy and depression in a short span, but with the right internal state, one can make the most of the brief time available in life (44m5s).
• The combination of stillness, exuberance, and intoxication is essential to living a fulfilling life and making the most of human intelligence and capabilities (44m42s).
• Life is like a breeze, and every day brings new situations, but one can navigate through them with the right approach (44m49s).

The Organization's Neutrality and Adiyogi's Face

• The organization does not subscribe to any particular religious, philosophical, or political group, which can lead to opposition from various groups (45m1s).
• A large face of Adiyogi was created, which holds the Guinness record for the largest face on the planet, symbolizing stillness, intoxication, and exuberance (45m40s).
• The face was designed to acknowledge and inspire people, and it took 2.5 years to create with the help of in-house engineers (45m49s).
• The face is 112 ft tall, made of steel, and composed of individual pieces put together like a puzzle (46m43s).

Moving from Belief Systems to Technologies

• The goal is to move human well-being from belief systems to technologies, using methods and technologies provided by Adiyogi 15,000 years ago (47m8s).
• Humanity is now more willing to look at technology as a solution for everything, including inner well-being (47m37s).
• The human mechanism is the most sophisticated technology on the planet, but many people have not read the "user's manual" (47m51s).
• To get to know oneself, one needs to examine the directions and learn the instrument, rather than just repeating what others have done (48m11s).
• The key is to start experiencing oneself, rather than just living, and to find ways to navigate through the noise and distractions of modern life (48m45s).
• To make a distinction between what is you and what is not you, it's essential to recognize that external objects, clothes, and even the body are not the self, but rather tools or accumulations of food and impressions (48m59s).
• The body is an accumulation of food, and the mind is an accumulation of impressions, both of which can be used as instruments, but if they control an individual, it can be detrimental (50m38s).
• Many people invest their lives in fulfilling bodily and psychological needs, which can destroy them, rather than using these needs to achieve their goals (51m0s).

Shamb and the Self

• A simple method, called shamb, can help create a distinction between the self and the body and mind, allowing for a space between them, which can mark the end of suffering (51m26s).
• Suffering can be categorized into physical and mental suffering, and creating a distance between the self and the body and mind can alleviate these sufferings (51m52s).
• When there is no fear of suffering, intelligence can blossom, and being human can find expression, which means having the ability to choose how to be, rather than reacting instinctively (52m11s).
• Being human means crossing the line from compulsive reactions to conscious choices, allowing individuals to choose how to be, regardless of their circumstances (52m42s).
• The evolution of humans is not complete until they can choose how to be, rather than simply reacting instinctively (53m14s).
• Consciously responding to situations, rather than reacting instinctively, is a key aspect of being human and completing the evolution process (53m36s).
• To get to know oneself, it's essential to create space between what is you and what is not you, as your body is an accumulation of things that can be yours but not you (53m55s).
• The mind is also an accumulation of impressions, and everything you have, including your body, mind, emotions, thoughts, and memories, can be seen as separate from your true self (54m24s).
• A meditative process involves leaving all these accumulated things behind, like putting them on a bedside table, to create a distinction between what is you and what is not you (54m41s).
• Suffering happens physiologically and psychologically when there is no distance between what is you and what is not you, and creating this distance can bring an end to suffering (55m6s).

Tombstone Story and Accumulations

• A story is shared about a tombstone from India with the inscription "Rest in peace until we meet again," which is seen as putting pressure on the deceased and the living (55m39s).
• The body and mind are accumulations, and whatever you accumulate can belong to you but cannot be you (56m24s).

Cell Phones and Desires

• The capacity for consciousness can be hijacked by cell phones, but they can also be a blessed instrument if used correctly (56m38s).
• The key is to use tools like phones wisely, as anything can be used for good or bad, depending on how it's used (57m30s).
• People often get frustrated when their desires or expectations are blocked, as seen in the example of someone blocking traffic and causing drivers to freak out (57m48s).
• Suffering is a mental condition and not a result of external situations, as people can create stress and suffering regardless of their circumstances, whether it's having a job, getting married, or even dying (58m6s).
• Stress is not a consequence of what one is doing, but rather a result of not understanding the nature of how one's mind functions and what is needed to make it work well (58m33s).
• Many people feel the need to constantly adjust themselves or do something to unwind, which implies that they don't know how to simply be, and this is a fundamental issue with being human (59m5s).
• To truly be human, one must learn to be conscious and aware, rather than just existing as a creature, and this is a privileged position in the evolutionary process (59m44s).

Consciousness and its Levels

• Consciousness is not an all-or-nothing state, but rather a spectrum, and people can be more or less conscious at different times, even in their sleep (1h0m20s).
• The level of consciousness can affect one's perception and awareness, with higher consciousness allowing for greater clarity and understanding, much like adjusting the lighting in a room (1h1m42s).
• To maintain high consciousness, one must keep their physiology clean and vibrant, and their mental structure unentangled, meaning not stuck in their own ideas and preconceptions (1h1m54s).

Castles in the Air and Human Suffering

• Building castles in the air and believing they are true can be considered neurotic, but living in those castles can be seen as psychotic, and when someone collects rent for that castle, it's called a psychiatrist (1h2m14s).
• Human intelligence, memory, and imagination are beautiful but uncontrolled aspects of being human, which can also be the source of problems and suffering (1h2m55s).
• Human suffering often stems from dwelling on past events or worrying about future events that do not exist in the present moment (1h3m20s).
• Suffering from things that do not exist can be seen as a waste of time, and people could be doing better things with their time (1h3m59s).

Ibata and BetterHelp Promotions

• Ibata is offering 100% cash back on Thanksgiving groceries for new users, allowing them to get their holiday meal for free (1h4m28s).
• The show is sponsored by BetterHelp, an online therapy platform that matches users with licensed therapists and offers convenient and flexible scheduling (1h5m34s).
• The host appreciates their therapists for listening and encourages others to consider therapy as a helpful resource (1h5m40s).
• BetterHelp offers a convenient and flexible way to start therapy, with users able to switch therapists at any time and get 10% off their first month with the code "Theo" (1h6m18s).

Letting Go and the Brahma Mudra

• Letting go of things from the past can be challenging, but it's essential to understand that letting go doesn't mean trying to forget (1h6m56s).
• The Brahma mudra is a yogic posture, but it's not necessary for simple meditation, and one can just close their eyes and try not to think of anything, such as monkeys, to understand the nature of the mind (1h7m13s).
• The mind only knows addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division, so trying to suppress thoughts will only make them multiply (1h7m43s).
• One cannot forcefully control the mind, but it can be handled in a desired way if one is above it, and this requires understanding the psychological process and the existential drama being played out in the mind (1h8m15s).
• The psychological drama is being played out on the platform of life, and it's essential to understand that one's existence is not solely due to their thoughts and emotions, but because they are alive (1h8m34s).
• Most people have become compulsive thinkers, believing that they exist because they think, but the truth is that they exist, and thinking is an option that can be exercised or not (1h9m7s).
• The mental and emotional stuff is just psychological drama, and it's essential to understand that it's happening on the stage of life, and one should not burn down the stage with mental illnesses, but instead, change the act (1h9m33s).

Psychological Drama and Mental Illnesses

• Mental illnesses, such as suicide, are growing at a global scale, and it's essential to address this issue, which is why an app called Miracle of Mind is being launched to provide simple tools for people to manage their minds (1h10m4s).
• The Miracle of Mind app aims to provide 12-15 minutes of daily tools to help people manage their minds, and it's essential to understand that the mind is a miracle, not a problem (1h10m11s).
• Treating the mind like a problem is a common mistake, and it's essential to recognize that the mind is the greatest thing one has, and it should be treated as such (1h10m35s).
• Destroying the mind's possibilities through substances or other means is not a meaningful way to achieve peace, and it's essential to find peace and joy while keeping the human possibilities full on (1h11m10s).
• Anxiety has become a common issue in modern times, with many people, especially younger generations, claiming to have anxiety, which is seen as a destruction of human nature and possibilities (1h11m35s).

Anxiety and Soil Health

• Sociological factors, lack of nutrients in food, and weak soil strength are contributing factors to anxiety, with the soil used for farming often being depleted of organic content (1h12m35s).
• Organic content in soil is essential, as it feeds trillions of organisms that live in the soil, with a handful of soil containing between 6 to 9 billion organisms and 50 to 70,000 species (1h13m29s).
• These organisms are the foundation of life, making up 60% of the human body, and their death due to lack of food is a significant issue (1h13m44s).
• The only two sources of organic material for soil are green litter from trees and animal waste, which are often absent in modern farms that rely on tractors instead of animals (1h14m30s).
• The minimum organic content required for soil to be considered fertile is 3%, but no nation has achieved this average, with the highest being 2.4% in Northwestern Europe and the United States having a significantly lower percentage (1h15m13s).
• Only 1.25% of Africa and 0.03% of India have suitable soil for farming, with the rest of the world's soil being depleted, and some agencies estimate that there are only 60 harvests left due to the lack of nutrients in the soil (1h15m44s).
• Large corporations are buying up farmland, but instead of addressing the soil depletion issue, they are looking for alternative food sources that do not require soil, which is not a viable solution as all life is based in nature (1h16m10s).
• The human body is made up of organisms, and the collapse of these organisms is leading to immune and psychological issues, with the software (the mind) being the first to collapse (1h16m51s).
• The widespread use of alcohol and drugs, especially among teenagers, is weakening their bodies and increasing their risk of depression and mental health issues (1h17m16s).
• Studies have shown that consuming these substances during the growing period can lead to a higher risk of depression and mental health issues later in life (1h17m31s).
• The lack of proper nutrients is contributing to anxiety and mental health issues in the younger generation, as they are not able to create a stable environment inside themselves (1h18m10s).
• The nutritional value of food has decreased over time, with one California orange in the 1920s providing the same amount of nutrition as eight oranges today (1h18m31s).
• The plowing of grasslands in the United States has led to soil erosion and the loss of topsoil, with the wind being a major factor in the degradation of the land (1h19m2s).
• The Dust Bowl, a period of severe soil erosion, has occurred in the past and has happened again recently in Illinois (1h19m50s).
• Somebody mentioned that millions of tons of soil landed in New York City, but this is only a small part of the problem, as a much larger amount of soil likely went into the Atlantic Ocean due to deep plowing of the prairie, a grassland that is prone to wind erosion (1h19m58s).

Generation Z and the Safe Soil Movement

• The term "Generation Z" implies that it is the final generation, and this mindset may contribute to the lack of concern for the future of the planet and its soil (1h20m40s).
• The "safe soil movement" aims to change policies to protect the soil, as individual actions like fixing a kitchen garden are not enough to solve the problem (1h21m5s).
• Soil is not just a resource, but a legacy that has been passed down from previous generations, and it is our responsibility to ensure it is preserved for future generations (1h21m36s).
• % of agricultural soils are already degraded, and this is likely due to a mindset that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term sustainability (1h21m54s).
• The lack of experience and connection with nature may contribute to the degradation of the soil, as people are more focused on information and technology than on experiencing the world around them (1h22m42s).
• The disconnection from nature is evident in the fact that people often rely on technology to tell them things like the temperature, rather than using their own senses (1h22m53s).
• The emphasis on information over experience has led to a fragmented approach to problem-solving, where people focus on individual actions rather than considering the larger picture (1h23m21s).

India Visit and the Glasgow COP 26

• A visit to India is mentioned, specifically to Madras, but the topic is put off to discuss soil first (1h24m16s).
• The Glasgow COP 26 meeting is discussed, where environment ministers, prime ministers, and presidents gather to discuss climate issues, but soil was not mentioned during the 15-day meeting (1h24m24s).

Save Soil Campaign and Global Efforts

• A campaign was started to raise awareness about soil, which included riding a motorcycle from London to Southern India, covering 27 nations and 30,000 kilometers in 100 days (1h25m12s).
• The goal of the campaign was to change policies in nations, and a memorandum of understanding was signed with various countries, including the European Union, which has made progress in changing policies, but the process is slow (1h25m37s).
• The campaign reached 3.9 billion people through social media and other means, which led to some leaders taking notice and making changes, such as in European countries and India (1h26m1s).
• Middle Eastern countries are also making efforts, despite having desert land, and China is making significant progress in addressing soil issues, having converted millions of hectares of land into tree-based agriculture (1h26m25s).
• The challenges of democracy in implementing change are discussed, including the slow process and the potential for misuse, which can hinder progress (1h26m54s).
• The example of China is given, where decisions can be made quickly without the same level of red tape and debate, allowing for faster implementation of changes (1h27m28s).
• The difficulties of navigating legal issues and court challenges in democracies are highlighted, which can slow down the process of making changes (1h27m47s).

Misuse of Democracy and the Search for Connection

• The mechanics of democracy have been misused, and it's no longer about the spirit of democracy, which is what's best for the people, but rather a vulgar description of it (1h28m27s).
• The spirit of democracy has become confusing, and it's possible that this is a side effect of democracy and capitalism over time (1h28m47s).
• Despite increased connection in the world, people may be missing love and a deeper sense of connection (1h29m1s).
• Love can be seen as a choice, but it may also involve something more cosmic, and it feels different when experienced (1h29m17s).

Love and Interconnectedness

• The emotion of love is initially initiated by a rush of hormones in the system, which can hijack a person's intelligence (1h30m29s).
• Nature's intent behind the hormonal rush is to encourage reproduction, as it wants the species to survive (1h31m27s).
• Leaving aside the aspect of reproduction, love can be seen as a longing to become one with someone (1h32m4s).
• This longing can be understood by recognizing the interconnectedness of all living beings, such as the fact that humans and trees are connected through the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide (1h32m24s).
• This interconnectedness can be seen as a fact, highlighting that humans are not really separate from other living beings (1h32m41s).
• Life is one big phenomenon, from microorganisms to plants, trees, and animals, but humans intellectually separate these things in their minds (1h32m54s).
• A sharp mind is good for dissecting and analyzing, but it's not suitable for unifying everything; unifying doesn't mean physically coming together, but rather recognizing the interconnectedness of all things (1h33m47s).
• Love is a strong emotion that brings people close together, making them feel like they're one, but this feeling is often short-lived and followed by anxiety and pain (1h34m7s).
• Humans are essentially a part of a larger phenomenon, and they're just a temporary presence on the planet, like countless others before them (1h34m39s).
• People often struggle to find joy and fulfillment in love, but moments of great joy can happen, and these moments are precious, even if they're fleeting (1h35m12s).
• The feeling of being one with someone or something can be achieved by removing the barriers of the mind, and this feeling can bring blissfulness and ecstasy (1h35m48s).
• It's possible to teach people a simple way to sit in bliss, with or without their eyes closed, and experience ecstasy without relying on external stimuli (1h36m6s).
• Sadhguru's greatest achievement is reportedly teaching millions of people worldwide to experience tears of ecstasy through a simple practice (1h36m14s).
• Human experiences, whether pleasant or unpleasant, come from within, and the question is whether people want to rely on external stimuli or consciously create their experiences (1h37m3s).

Cybertruck and the Pursuit of Bliss

• The individual drives a Cybertruck, which was gifted to them, and although they appreciate its convenience, such as not having to stop for gas, they belong to a generation that admires and enjoys internal combustion engines (1h37m15s).
• The ultimate goal for many people is to achieve a state of blissfulness, which can be referred to by various names, including love or a relationship, and is often pursued through substances like alcohol or drugs to experience the highest level of pleasantness (1h38m1s).
• The concept of Heaven is often associated with a pleasant and beautiful place, and people's idea of it is influenced by what they were told in their childhood, with the implication being that if Heaven were described as a horrendous place, people might not want to go there (1h38m22s).
• The search for pleasantness is fundamental to human nature, and addictions to substances like alcohol or drugs can be seen as a quest for a quick fix to achieve a most pleasant experience in life (1h38m52s).
• However, this pursuit of pleasantness through substances is not a moral issue, but rather it makes a person "less" in the sense that it impairs their faculties and cognition, whether they realize it or not (1h39m12s).

Marijuana, Pornography, and Regulation

• The individual has been invited to conferences for people under 25, where they have been asked to make marijuana legal, but they argue that if they were to make one substance legal, they would have to consider making others legal as well, and that the desire to get high is often driven by a desire to escape or disconnect (1h39m22s).
• When people smoke or get high, their faculties and cognition come down, making them less capable of performing tasks or perceiving the world around them, and this state is often mislabeled as being "high" (1h40m34s).
• True "highness" would involve being able to see, hear, or experience things that others cannot, rather than simply being in a state of impaired faculties (1h41m31s).
• In India, marijuana is illegal, but it is widely available, and many people do not care to smoke it, unlike in America where it has become more popular (1h41m59s).
• In some valleys in India, marijuana plants can grow up to 7 feet tall, and walking through these areas can be a unique experience (1h42m20s).
• A significant problem in the USA is young people getting addicted to pornography, which can hijack their energy and masculinity (1h42m40s).
• Pornography can objectify women, making them seem like mere objects rather than individuals worth connecting with, which undermines women's liberation (1h43m10s).
• It is estimated that 70% of internet content is pornography, which is a concerning statistic (1h43m42s).
• The responsibility to prevent the spread of pornography lies with both governments and individuals, as humans are influenced by societal norms and laws (1h43m55s).
• Without regulations, many people may engage in harmful behaviors, such as substance abuse, which has led to over 100,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2023 (1h44m19s).
• Some regulation is necessary to prevent the negative consequences of pornography, especially for young children who may be exposed to it (1h44m37s).
• Exposure to pornography at a young age can have long-lasting effects, such as shame and discomfort, and can even affect one's relationship with their mother (1h45m9s).
• Reducing women to body parts through pornography degrades all human life, as everyone is born of a woman, and has significant implications (1h45m31s).
• The popularity of pornography is often driven by commerce, with little regard for its impact on individuals and society (1h45m49s).
• Unfortunately, the problem of pornography is not limited to the USA and is also prevalent in rural India, where it has taken a toll on the youth (1h46m2s).

Information Overload and the Nature of Heaven

• The idea that more information can solve everything is flawed, as people have become more distressed despite having access to a vast amount of information (1h46m45s).
• Situations in the world have improved significantly, with modern conveniences making life easier, but human beings are becoming more distressed due to excessive information (1h47m14s).
• The concept of heaven is questioned, and it is suggested that people may already be in heaven but making a mess of it with their minds (1h48m37s).

Getting Involved with the Institutes

• To get involved with the institutes, people can start with free offerings, such as simple meditations, which can work wonderfully well (1h49m28s).
• The institutes have a significant online presence, with over 5 billion video viewership in 2023, and their material is available on over a thousand platforms (1h49m39s).
• Listening to talks and ideas can change opinions and provide relief, but the most important thing is to practice simple techniques that can change one's chemistry (1h50m12s).
• For those who are serious, there is a 7-Day program called Inner Engineering, which is divided into seven steps and comes with a final day of teaching (1h50m30s).
• A powerful process called Shambhavi Mahamudra is a 21-minute practice that has been researched at Beth Israel Hospital and the Howard Medical School, with findings showing a 70% increase in endocannabinoid levels in the body, higher than the levels experienced during a sexual orgasm (1h50m40s).
• This increase in endocannabinoid levels is a natural process that occurs within the body, and the practice can be done by anyone (1h51m33s).
• The practice involves seven steps, and a complimentary guide can be provided for those interested in trying it (1h51m42s).
• The goal is to have 10% of listeners try the practice, which can lead to a 50% discount for those who participate (1h52m6s).
• The practice is not a religion, philosophy, or ideology, but rather a method or technology for achieving well-being and peace (1h52m31s).

The Origin and Practice of Shambhavi Mahamudra

• The origin of the practice dates back to 1982, when the founder experienced an ecstatic state while sitting on a hill, which led to the development of the practice (1h52m42s).
• The founder was initially a skeptic but eventually realized that the ecstatic state was a natural experience that could be achieved through the practice (1h53m12s).
• The practice involves sitting in a specific posture and keeping the mind off psychological activity, allowing an ecstatic wave to occur in the system (1h54m15s).
• The founder's goal is to share the practice with others, as he believes that everyone would want to experience the bliss and ecstasy that it brings (1h54m37s).
• At the age of 25, the founder made a plan to share the practice with the world within 2.5 years (1h54m46s).
• The world's population was around 5 billion when a plan was made to reach the entire world in 2.5 years, but it's taking longer than expected, with the goal now being to reach 8.4 billion people (1h54m55s).
• The idea is not just about reaching a large number of people, but about humanity as a whole, and the goal is to improve the percentage of people reached (1h55m23s).
• A 50% discount is being offered to subscribers, and the experience is instructional, taking users through a step-by-step process (1h55m43s).

Focus and Human Intelligence

• The reason people don't experience certain things is not because they're difficult, but because they lack focus, and their focus is often on external things rather than internal improvement (1h56m5s).
• If people take care of themselves and focus on being better, they will be better regardless of external circumstances (1h56m20s).
• Human intelligence is a fantastic thing, but it's often used to cut people into pieces, causing stress, anxiety, and madness (1h57m2s).
• Science has become purely utilitarian and objective, neglecting the subjective experience of life, and this has led to a dry and lifeless approach to understanding the world (1h57m31s).
• Using intelligence to dissect and analyze things can provide information, but it doesn't lead to true understanding or profound experience (1h58m28s).

Information vs. Experience

• People are often well-informed, but they lack a deep sense of involvement and true understanding, and if their memories were wiped out, they would be left with nothing (1h58m50s).
• There is a difference between information and experience, where information is useful for fixing external situations, but the inner situation requires a profound experience that cannot be achieved through information alone (1h59m3s).
• People often rely on information from outside sources, such as their phone screens, which can create a false sense of understanding the world, but in reality, they are only seeing a limited perspective (1h59m52s).
• The mental structure is formed through the content in one's mind, which is acquired through the five senses, including seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and tasting (2h0m18s).
• Today, most people acquire information solely through external sources, rather than forming impressions or experiences, which can lead to a lack of substance or nourishment (2h0m37s).

The Human Mind and Buddhi

• The human mind can be seen as 16 parts, which can be divided into four segments: buddhi (intellect), ahankara (identity), Manus (memory), and chitt (2h1m52s).
• Buddhi, or intellect, is the front end of human intelligence and is responsible for dissecting the world into pieces, but it is possible to go above the intellect, as exemplified by the concept of a Buddha (2h2m22s).
• A Buddha is someone who has gone above their intellect and can see the world as it truly is, and there have been thousands of Buddhas throughout history (2h3m5s).
• Buddhi is a necessary function for surviving in the world, as it allows individuals to understand and navigate their surroundings (2h3m22s).
• Intellect is vital for survival, especially when in survival mode, but it only provides a partial picture of reality as it relies on data collected from the five senses, which give half information (2h3m30s).
• The information gathered through the senses is incomplete, and even with all the available information, one can only make conclusions based on a minuscule amount of knowledge in the universe (2h4m22s).
• Intellect is a frontend defender, like a knife or sword, that needs to be used discreetly to avoid harming others, as human intelligence can be used to kill people (2h5m11s).

Ahankara and Identity

• Ahankara, or the sense of identity, plays a crucial role in shaping one's intellect, as it influences how one thinks and acts based on their identity, whether it be national, racial, religious, or gender-based (2h5m42s).
• The mind works by protecting one's identity, and the intellect will do everything possible to defend it, which is why people are willing to live, die, or fight for their identity (2h6m13s).

Manus and Memory

• Manus, or the silo of memory, is the third dimension of the mind, comprising eight types of memory, including elemental, evolutionary, genetic, conscious, and unconscious levels of memory (2h6m44s).
• Memory is what fuels the intellect, and there are ways to consciously activate evolutionary and genetic memories, which can influence human behavior and actions (2h7m3s).
• Human beings often act as if they know something they have never been exposed to, due to the presence of other forms of memory, such as evolutionary and genetic memory, which can find expression in various ways (2h7m25s).
• The human species' experiences and those of our ancestors are within us, and whatever has happened to them is also within us, whether we realize it or not (2h7m35s).

Silo of Memory and Early Education

• The "Silo of memory" is compared to a sharp knife, representing the intellect or "buddhi," and the hand that holds it represents "ahankara" or identity (2h7m46s).
• In India, there was a tradition of not starting education until a child was 12 years old, as it was believed that the body and brain needed to mature before being burdened with education (2h8m22s).
• Today, education starts at a much younger age, with some children being taught languages and other subjects from as young as seven months, which is considered ridiculous (2h8m43s).

Cosmic Identity and Inner Freedom

• Before starting education, it is essential to help a child identify themselves with the cosmic identity, rather than just their family, caste, or religion (2h9m1s).
• This is known as "aam brahmasmi," or "I am that which is the ultimate," and is seen as a way to empower a human being (2h9m18s).
• If a limited identity is empowered through education, it can lead to terrible things, as seen in the case of convicts who have been imprisoned for long periods (2h9m30s).
• A program called "Inner Freedom for the Imprisoned" has been successful in transforming the lives of thousands of convicts in India and the US, by helping them to expand their identity (2h9m42s).
• The main problem with convicts is their limited identity, which makes them focus solely on their own well-being, without considering the consequences of their actions on others (2h10m13s).
• Expanding one's identity to include family, community, and nation can help to prevent harm to others and promote a sense of responsibility and belonging (2h11m2s).
• All crime and evil on the planet can be attributed to limited identity, and expanding one's identity is essential to creating a more harmonious and peaceful world (2h11m33s).
• All genocides and the most horrendous things humans have done are a product of limited identity (2h11m36s).
• The example of Adolf Hitler is given, who was super competent and had the same mindset as many others, but his competence made his actions more impactful and led to an industrial level of suffering (2h11m53s).
• Human competence can become a curse when combined with limited identity, leading to more intelligent and competent people creating bigger bombs and more deadly weapons (2h12m43s).
• The more intelligent and competent people are, the better the world should be, but limited identity prevents this from happening (2h12m50s).
• The horrible things people do to each other are a consequence and product of limited identity, and the first step to change this is to enhance identity (2h13m13s).

Memory and the Shambhavi Mahamudra

• The memory is a silo of memory that contains the whole evolutionary process of who humans are, including genetic, evolutionary, and elemental memory (2h13m42s).
• If limited identity is removed, humans can quickly get back to a good level, and this can be done experientially, not just intellectually (2h13m58s).
• The Shambavi Mahamudra is mentioned as a way to experience this, and it is possible to connect with others and the world around us, not just through emotions or imagination, but as life itself (2h14m19s).

Scientists and God, Me and You

• A story is told about scientists meeting God in 2060 and trying to show off their abilities, but God responds by saying that they should first get their own soil, highlighting that fundamentally, everything is made of the same material (2h15m17s).
• The concept of "me" and "you" is explained in terms of physical bodies and minds, with the understanding that there are boundaries to be respected, but life itself is a single, unified phenomenon (2h16m14s).
• Enhancing one's life can have a positive impact on both oneself and others, and this can be achieved by enhancing the life within, rather than just focusing on physical or intellectual development (2h16m46s).

Chitt and the Human Body

• The fourth part of the mind is referred to as "chitt," which represents a level of intelligence within an individual (2h17m32s).
• The human body is composed of what it has consumed, and the process of transforming food into energy is a remarkable and often overlooked process (2h17m55s).
• Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is referenced, with the idea that it would take millions of years for a chicken to evolve into a human, but the human body can transform a chicken egg into energy in a matter of hours (2h18m11s).
• The importance of consciousness is emphasized, with the idea that whatever one is not conscious of does not exist, and that most people are not aware of the greatest force in the universe, which is consciousness (2h19m0s).
• The difference between memory-based intelligence and a deeper, more profound intelligence is discussed, with the idea that the latter is what allows the human body to transform food into energy and is not dependent on data or memory (2h19m19s).
• This deeper intelligence is referred to as "pure intelligence" and can be thought of as God, consciousness, or the self, and is evident in the brilliance and complexity of life (2h20m2s).
• The idea is presented that if one pays attention to life without taking input from others, they will see the brilliance and complexity of creation and understand that it is the result of a profound intelligence (2h20m25s).
• The concept of God can be seen as a brilliant intelligence, rather than just a being, as it is the source of creation that people cannot fully explain or understand (2h20m54s).
• This intelligence is not data-driven, but rather an innate, un-solidified aspect of human consciousness, referred to as "chitt" in yogi culture, which can be accessed to tap into its power (2h22m24s).
• If one can access their chitt, their life can become magical, and they can achieve things without hard labor, making it a desirable goal to strive for (2h23m28s).

Save Soil and the Cauvery River Project

• The plans for "Save Soil," a movement, include demonstrating projects, such as the Cav calling project, which aims to revitalize the Cav River in Southern India, a lifeline for three states that has lost 60% of its original state over the past 50 years (2h24m2s).
• The degradation of rivers like the Cav River is often due to human activities, and understanding how rivers are made and sustained is crucial for their conservation, as seen in the example of the Mississippi River, which gets nearly 90% of its water from the Great Lakes (2h24m39s).
• In tropical climates, such as India, the primary source of water is monsoon rains, which have not changed significantly over the last 100 years, but have increased in recent years, with 107% monsoon in the previous year and 117% in 2024 (2h25m40s).
• The monsoon rains often cause flooding and drought due to the lack of vegetation, which prevents the water from percolating into the soil, resulting in rivers flooding and then drying up within a few months (2h26m25s).
• In the Cauvery Basin, which covers 83,000 square kilometers of land, nearly 83-84% of the tree cover has been removed over the last 70 years, leading to soil degradation and reduced water retention (2h26m53s).
• To address this issue, tree-based agriculture has been introduced, which involves growing trees alongside crops to increase yields and improve soil health, with over 100,000 farmers adopting this approach and experiencing significant economic benefits (2h27m19s).
• This initiative has led to the planting of 114 million trees, with a goal of planting 2.42 billion trees in 8 years to revive the river and demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach (2h28m24s).
• Each tree is geocoded, and if any tree dies, it is immediately replaced, with the Indian Space Research Organization providing free geocoding services (2h28m52s).
• The ultimate goal is to restore the river's flow by increasing the land's ability to hold monsoon rains, which will require planting 2.4 billion trees within the next 5-6 years (2h29m30s).
• The largest reservoir of water is not ponds, lakes, or rivers, but rather the land itself, which can hold significant amounts of water if it has sufficient vegetation and organic content (2h29m49s).

Water Reservoirs and Climate Change

• The majority of freshwater on the planet is held in soil, with well-vegetated soil holding 5 to 8 times more water than all the freshwater rivers combined (2h30m3s).
• Standing under a tree can cause a 4 to 5° drop in temperature, demonstrating the impact of vegetation on climate change (2h30m37s).
• Adding more green leaves to the planet is a step towards climate mitigation, with the most effective locations for tree planting being below 33° latitude (2h31m3s).
• Photosynthesis, the basis of life, has decreased by 80% over the last 1,000 years (2h31m26s).
• Green leaves are considered the best solar panels, capturing solar energy and creating life (2h31m45s).
• The world's oxygen levels are decreasing, and increasing them by 2 to 3 percentage points could improve mental health, physical health, and plant growth (2h32m23s).
• The current atmospheric oxygen level is around 22.6%, and increasing it to 30% could significantly improve life (2h32m35s).
• The only way to increase oxygen levels is by adding more green leaves (2h32m48s).
• The global O2 levels are currently around 21%, and increasing them by 5 to 6 percentage points could greatly improve life (2h33m3s).
• The "Save Soil" initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of soil and vegetation in combating climate change (2h33m16s).

Miracle of Mind and Bliss

• The "Miracle of Mind" initiative aims to have at least 3 billion people meditate for 12 to 15 minutes a day to create a significant change in human behavior (2h33m34s).
• A state of bliss is described as being "blissed out" without the use of chemicals, implying a natural state of euphoria (2h34m17s).
• The body is likened to a "chemical factory," suggesting its natural ability to produce substances that can induce feelings of bliss (2h34m25s).
• A sense of weightlessness and freedom is described, with the person feeling like they are "floating" and "falling like leaves" (2h34m28s).
• The idea of reaching a state of stability or grounding is mentioned, referred to as the "ground," where a newfound sense of awareness or understanding can be shared (2h34m40s).
• A sense of inner peace or clarity is described as a "piece of mind" that has been discovered, which can be felt in one's being (2h34m43s).